Manifold



13. F. R. HIGLEY 2,27A

MANIFOLD Filed April 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FRANK R. HIGLEYA TTORNEYJ am 51 7A,

an. 14 E30 MANIFOLD Filed April 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iva ' INVENTORFRANK R. HEGLE g Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 19Claims.

This invention relates to fuel intake manifolds for multiple cylinderinternal combustion engines.

The function of such a manifold is to: receive a combustible mixtureformed in a carburetion device from liquid fuel and air, and deliverthis mixture to a number of inlet ports in the engine cylinder block.For the purpose, the manifold has a master passage leading from thecarburetor, and a plurality of two or more distributing passages leadingdivergently from a base part thereof and usually disposed in a commongeneral plane.

My copending application, Serial No. 605,759, filed August 18, 1933,shows such a manifold and discloses provision therein for improving flowthrough the manifold particularly equalizing flow of parts of themixture under accelerating conditions, utilizing for the purpose a rotordisposed in the base part of the manifold, arranged to be actuated bygaseous flow therethrough and adapted to receive from the mixture liquidparticles deposited by their inertia from the master passage and todistribute such particles by centrifugal force generally radiallyoutwardly toward the distributing passages.

An object of the present invention is to improve upon the arrangement ofsaid prior application.

More particularly it is an object of this invention to provide such arotor together with means whereby all of the liquid received by therotor' will be ultimately distributed into the mouths of thedistributing passages as distinguished from the master passage wallsintervening therebetWeen. This is accomplished by draining theintervening walls of liquid delivered thereto from the rotor, andreturning such drained liquid to the rotor, so that eventually all suchliquid finds its way directly from the rotor into one or another of thedistributing passages, and equally to all.

As is Well known in the art, it is desirable that the combustiblemixture of liquid fuel and air be temporarily enriched duringaccelerating conditions. It is a further object of this invention toprovide that much of the liquid drained from the described interveningmanifold Walls under other than accelerating conditions, be accumulated,to be returned to the stream or delivered to the distributing passagesof the manifold under accelerating conditions.

The invention embraces controlling the return to the mixture of theaccumulated liquid particles received therefrom, automaticallyresponsive to acceleration characteristics in the system, such as fullthrottle opening, rise in pressure in the distributing passages andothers as will appear.

Another object of the invention is to provide 5 improved throttle valvemeans particularly adapted for cooperation with the rotor employed.

Further objects are to provide a manifold wherein flow betweendistributing passages and lo reverse flow in distributing passages isdiminished by dampened effect, whereas flow in feeding direction isimproved by minimized turbulence.

The exact nature of this invention together 15 with further objects andadvantages thereof will be apparent from the following description takenin connection witli the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1 to 4inclusive, Figs. 5 to '7 inclusive, and Fig. 8, illustrate respectivelydif- 20 fering embodiments of the invention. Fig. l is a typicalsectional elevation through pertinent parts of a manifold with partstherein appearing in open throttle position; Fig. 2 is a typicalhorizontal section through the same manifold; Fig. 3 is a sectionalelevation as in the plane of line 3-'3, Figs. 1 and 2, but showing theparts in throttled position; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detailas in the plane of line 4-4, Fig.

2. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing a modification; Fig. 6is a sectional elevation as in the planes of line 6-6, Fig. 5; and Fig.7 is a horizontal section as in the plane of line 1-1, Fig. 5. Fig. 8 isa sectional elevation of a third modification.

With reference now to the drawings and first to the modification ofFigs. 1-4 thereof, I indicates generally a manifold for a six-cylinderengine, the manifold having the usual downdraft master passage 2 withthree distributing passages 3 leadingdivergently from a base part 4 ofthe master passage and arranged to deliver to inlet ports in thecylinder block of the engine.

It will be understood that the master passage 2 is served by adown-draft carburetor, the carburetion device having the usual throttle5 of butterfly type.

The manifold opposite the master passage has an opening which may be ofcircular form, closed by a base member 6, which may be a die casting toor the like, of similar form, mounted as by the screws 1 to seal itsopening in the manifold.

The base member 6 has a central boss 8 with a through opening alignedwith the master passage 2, to receive a spindle or plunger 9 slidable inthe base between the positions indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 and havingsuitable means i0 alternately engageable with the corresponding ends ofthe boss 8 to limit the plunger movement. Rotatably mounted at the.upper end of the plunger 9, within the hollow of the base part 4 of themanifold, is a turborotor here shown as comprising two principal parts,an upper part H which may be a casting as indicated, and a lower part i2which may be of pressed metal. The rotor member ii is drilled asindicated in Fig. 1, to provide a good free-running bearing for it onthe plunger 9, a steel ball i3 or the like serving to take the thrust ofthe bearing. The member H is preferably perforated as at it to providelubrication for its bearing on the plunger as well as lubrication of theplunger in the base 6. The member H preferably has its upper surfaceformed to provide the generally conical anticlastic characteristicsindicated, to improve flow conditions from the master passage 2 of themanifold into the distributing passages 3, and to better accommodate thebearing of the rotor upon the plunger 9.

The member ii. of the rotor is in the form of a skirt having itsperiphery extending beyond the periphery of the other rotor member ii,and deformed to provide blades !5 adapted to impart rotational forces tothe rotor as the result of gaseous flow from the master passage 2 of themanifold. The skirt i2 is generally annular, curving downwardly as itcurves inwardly, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 so that while itsperipheral part immediately within its blades i5 lies generally in aplane transverse to its axis, its inner peripheral part lies generallyin a cylinder of relatively small diameter, with a cylindrical edgedirected downwardly. The skirt part is secured to the upper part H ofthe rotor, slightly spaced therefrom by an arrangement such as thatindicated in Fig. wherein the skirt part is upset at a few peripheralpoints as at $5, and. there welded or otherwise attached to the memberH, leaving a substantially continuous slight annular clearance ifiabetween the rotor parts generally at their periphery.

The base closure part 6 is provided with an annular trough l! to receivethe lower extremity of the skirt part 12 of the rotor when the rotor isin lowermost position in Fig. 1. The upper face of the base member 6 andthe adjacent parts of the manifold as well, are slopingly disposed todrain into the trough IT as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

The parts are so proportioned and arranged, and particularly thesectional dimension of the plunger 9 is related with the combined weightof the plunger and its rotor, that when the throttle 5 is open theplunger will assume its lowermost position as Fig. l, and when thethrottle 5 is substantially closed as in idling position, the plungerwill assume its uppermost position as indicated in Fig. 3. As will beappreciated by one familiar with the art, such plunger adjustment willautomatically follow the pressure differential within and without themanifold under the described throttle conditions.

Operation will therefore be as follows, it being appreciated that acombustible mixture, gener ally gaseous but containing entrainedparticles of liquid fuel, is delivered from the carburetor downwardlythrough the master passage 2 of the manifold, subject to the throttle 5.Commencing with the parts in idling position as indicated in Fig. 3,there being a high vacuum in the distributing passages 3 of themanifold, the plunger 9 is caused to rise acting as a piston under thehigher or atmospheric pressure on its outer face, and raising the rotorH to effect a somewhat restricted annular orifice at the mouth of themaster passage 2. This orifice is directed to the blades 5 of the motorso that the latter is set into rapid rotation upon the plunger acting asa spindle. Particles of liquid fuel entrained in the stream down-flowingthrough the master passage 2, will by their inertia be thrown againstthe upper face of the rotor. Centrifugal force will then move theseliquid particles downwardly and outwardly so that the rotor will deliverthem almost instantly radially outwardly in all directions. Some ofthese liquid particles will thus be thrown along the distributingpassages -2 in feeding direction. Others will strike the wall parts ofthe manifold between the distributing passages, flow downwardly bygravity and be collected in the trough I1.

Upon opening of the throttle as in Fig. 1, the vacuum within themanifold being broken, the plunger 9 will. drop to its lowermostposition, lowering the skirt part ll of the rotor into the liquidcollected in the trough i1, increased gaseous flow through the masterpassage, plus inertia of the rotor itself, maintaining the rotor inoperation at high speed.

Upon submersion of the lower extremity of the rotor skirt part in theliquid. fuel, capillary attraction of the latter will cause it to climbupwardly on both inner and outer surfaces of the skirt portion l2 which,rotating at high speed, causes the liquid to be advanced upwardly andvoutwardly over the surfaces until discharged radially outwardly bycentrifugal force, that liquid on the upper face of the member l2passing outwardly by way of the openings 16a between the points ofjoinder l6.

40 Thus, at all times the rotor will assist in distributing the liquidparticles, but particularly upon sudden opening of the throttle, morefuel will be delivered to the distributing passages.

opening is in the rotor permits sufficient liquid fuel entry to therotor bearing to lubrithe latter.

With reference now to the modification of 5 to 7 inclu ive, themanifold, generally indicated at la, is provided with a downdraft n"ster-passage part 2:: leading to divergent distrib ting all generally asbefore, except tha here but two distributing passages, are indicated,disposed at apart leading directly oppositely from the master passagebase. This two-branch manifold arrangement will be recognized by onefarm ran. with the art as characteristic of four and eight cylinderengines.

The manifold is provided with a circular opening in its base partopposite its master passage 2a, in which is seated a base 6a havingadjacent diaphragm 23, both base and diaphragm being preferably secured,as indicated in the drawings, by a common set of screws la, The base hasa central hub part 8a in which is slidably mounted a plunger 9a whichserves a spindle for a rotor Ha. The rotor here shown has a ball bearingmounting upon the spindle 9a, as indicated in Fig. 6, including a nut tleaded upon the end of the spindle to secure the inner ball racethereupon, the outer ball race being seated in the indicated recess in.the rotor. The rotor is of one-piece construction carried by the outerball race, and includes peripherally located turbo-blades i5a,

and inwardly extending therefrom an annular skirt part I2a. The basemember So has an annular trough Ha adapted to receive the skirt part 12aof the rotor, and the adjacent parts of the base member 6a. and manifoldare slopingly arranged to drain into this trough, all generally asbefore.

By the arrangement described, the rotor has limited adjustment towardand from the master passage 2a of the manifold, automatically dependentupon the pressure differential within and without the manifolddistributing passages. In the drawings the upper limit of adjustment ofthe plunger 9a, and consequently of the rotor, is provided by theextremity of the downwardly extending part of the boss 8a, which limitsinward flexure of the diaphragm 20, as indicated Fig. 6. The lower limitof adjustment is had, wherein the parts are positioned as in Fig. 5, byengagement of the inner race of the ball bearing with the upperextremity of the boss 8a.

Operation of the rotor Ila will obviously be generally as in themodification of Figs. 1 to 4.

Liquid fuel particles entrained in the generally gaseous mixturedelivered through the master passage 2a, will be received upon the faceof the rotor Ila which will throw them outwardly in all directions bycentrifugal force, the rotor being maintained in rotation by the gaseousstream from the master passage. The head of the bearing-securing nut 2!will not rotate but this will be substantially inconsequential as theabsolute speed at this central part of the rotor would in any event beslight. Some of the liquid particles will, however, find their waydownwardly between the rotor and the nut 2!, lubricating the ballbearing and thence draining about the upper part of the boss 8a and intothe trough Ila. Most of the liquid particles discharged peripherally bythe rotor will be thrown along the distributing passages 3a and findtheir way directly into the corresponding engine cylinders. Some of theliquid particles discharged by the rotor will, however, strike theadjacent wall parts of the manifold from which they will drain into thetrough Ila.

When there is a high vacuum in the manifold, as when the engine isoperating under light load conditions, the diaphragm 23 will maintainthe rotor in its uppermost position, as

in Fig. 6, so that there will be an accumulation of liquid fuel in thetrough Ila up to a maximum level determined by the position of the rotorskirt 520, any liquid accumulated above this amount finding its wayupwardly and outwardly upon the outer face of the skirt and being thrownby centrifugal force from the rotor.

When the vacuum is sufiiciently reduced, as under open throttleconditions, the diaphragm 29 will be unable to maintain the rotor inraised position, the rotor will consequently under its own weight andthat of the plunger 9a, assume the lowered position of Fig. 5, plungingits skirt part [211 into. the accumulated liquid in the through Ma andinstantly discharging substantially all of this accumulated fueloutwardly and into the distributing passages 3a of the manifold.

The web part of the base member 6a which supports its boss part 611 ispreferably continuous so that liquid finding its way down the plunger soand onto the diaphragm 28 will, under vacuum conditions, be recoveredfrom the diaphragm compartment.

Preferably, the novel throttle means illustrated is provided forcooperation with the rotor arrangement just described, which is onesuitable for large sizes and heavy duty types of engines.

Such a throttle comprises a generally cylindrical thin-walled sleevemember 22 slidably and rotatably fitting in the master passage 2a toextend therefrom adjustably toward the rotor Ila, the master passagebeing preferably finished inside for the purpose. At its extremitytoward the rotor, the valve 22 is preferably flared outwardly as at 23,to improve flow conditions for the gaseous stream which leaves itsmouth.

For control of-the valve 22, it is provided with a side opening 24 toreceive a pin 25. This pin 25 is carried upon a head or crank part 26 ofa stub shaft 21 to which a throttle lever or equivalent controllingmember is attachable. The stub shaft 21 is rotatably mounted in a plug28 secured over an opening through the side of the manifold, suchopening being suitable to receive the head 26.

Obviously, by the arrangement described, relative adjustment of the stubshaft 2'! will effect sliding adjustment of the throttle 22 between itspositions of Figs. and 6, the crank pin 25 imparting a slight rotationalmotion to the valve in addition to its principal longitudinal motion.

Of course, the parts will be soadjusted that when the valve is in itslowermost or extreme closed position, it will have suificient clearancefrom the-rotor Ila that the latter may operate and that enough fuel foridling operation will be delivered to the engine by way of the annularspace between valve and rotor.

Also, when the valve is in its lowermost position it will serve tolargely block interflow between distributing passages and thus dampenout undesirable alternating pulsations which cause much trouble in manymanifolds under certain conditions, as will be appreciated by onefamiliar with the art.

With reference now to the modification of Fig. 8, an arrangement isshown wherein the rotor itself comprises the valve means generally afterthe teachings of my above identified sonending application.

Here the manifold parts are generally as before, comprising a down-draftmaster passage part 21) and associate divergent distributing passages3b. The manifold has an opening opposite the master passage Zb closed bya base casting 5b having an annular trough lib into which adjacentmanifold parts are arranged to drain. The base part 61) is provided witha central boss 81) in which a spindle 9b is mounted for adjustment withhelical characteristics, to have longitudinal motion accompanied byrotatable motionf In the arrangement shown, for the purpose of providingsuch motion at a minimum of expense, the upper extremity 3B of the boss81), which extends within the trough I'ib, as indicated, is peripherallyserrated, as shown, to cooperate with a correspondingly serrated collar3!. The serrations on these parts are in the form of teeth, each toothhaving a longitudinally extending extremity with a helical face leadingfrom its extremity to the base part of the inner longitudinal extremityof the next adjacent tooth. Three such teeth are indicated in the tooth.Three such teeth are indicated in the drawings for each of thecooperative parts. The

collar 3| is secured against rotation on its spinle 9b is by a pin 32seating in an end slot provided in the collar. Mounted on the upperextremity of the spindle 91) for rotation thereon is a rotor i to, hereshown as similar to the rotor H of Figs. 1 to 4, and having a skirt part[20 cooperative with the trough lib, the rotor having blades 15c wherebyit is maintained rotating during operation of the engine.

The rotor is of sufficiently greater diameter than the master passagethat the rotor may be raised against the mouth of the master passage tosubstantially close the latter, yet with sufficient clearance to permitfree rotor operation and idling operation of the engine; it beingunderstood that the base part of the manifold in which the rotor isadjustable, has sufficient width to clear the rotor blades at all times.

The spindle Sb is of sufficient length to carry at its lower end acontrol lever 33, a compression spring effective to maintain the pin 32seated in the collar 3i, and to permit longitudinal adjustment of thespindle to move the rotor etween its full and dotted line positions,Fig. 8. The base casting 6b may be provided with a lug 35, carrying aset screw 35 adapted to engage the lever 33 to limit the rotor-raising,valve closing position of the latter, whereby an idling adjustment forthe rotor, acting as a valve, may be had, as will be apparent to onefamiliar with the art.

Operation will also be apparent. The rotor is maintained constantlyrunrung, as in the other modifications, by the gaseous stream from themaster passage of the manifold. Liquid fuel particles entrained in thestream will strike the rotor and be thrown thereby radially outwardly inall directions, such particles as are not thrown into one or another ofthe distributim passages eventually collecting in the trough ii' Whenconsidered as a valve, by suitable adjustment of the lever 33, the rotormay be adjusted toward its dotted line position at the mouth of themaster paCsage with throttling effect, and vice versa. As the valve isadjusted to wide open position, that shown in full lines, accumulatedfuel will be discharged by the rotor effect of the valve by entry of itsskirt part I20 into the accumulated liquid. Under all conditions, thespring 34 will serve to yieldably maintain the teeth of the collar 31 inengagement with the teeth 33, so that rotative adjustment of the spindle91) will always produce corresponding longitudinal adjustment of therotor.

It will be apparent that all three above described modifications providefor mounting of therotor upon the base casting upon which it rotates, asa unit, before mounting of the base upon the manifold. In eacharrangement, the manifold is preferably widened or flattened out at thebase of its master passage, and the mouths of its distributing passagessimilarly widened, both to accommodate the rotor and to improve gaseousflow conditions from master to distributing passage, such conformationbeing indicated in all figures of the drawings with the exception ofFig. 4.

A particular advantage to be noted is that, by this invention andparticularly the feature of recirculating by way of the rotor of suchliquid fuel as is not discharged by the rotor immediately into one oranother of the distributing passages, all liquid fuel is ultimatelydischarged directly into the distributing passages. All distributingpassages will receive an instantly enriched mixture immediately uponattainment of full throttle conditions, the enrichment being had by fuelcollected during partial throttle and idling conditions. Especially tobe noted is that each distributing passage will receive an equal portionof the liquid fuel, provided only that its mouth is equal to those ofthe other distributing passages, and entirely independent of thedisposition of its mouth about the rotor axis with respect to the mouthsof the other distributing passages. Thus, the improvement by thisinvention is equally applicable to a straight line manifold, asindicated Figs. 5 to 7, a three-way manifold, such as indicated in Figs.1 to 3, or to an X-form of manifold as in a V-type motor.

What I claim is:

1. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, means located at said base part for separating liquidparticles from a generally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage, means for collecting some of said particles and rotary meansfor delivering the accumulated liquid to said distributing passages atthe will of the operator.

2. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, means located at said base part for separating liquidparticles from a generally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage, and rotary means for delivering the accumulated liquid to saiddistributing passages automatically dependent upon pressure in saiddistributing passages.

3. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, means located at said base part for separating liquidparticles from a generally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage, and rotary means for delivering the accumulated liquid to saiddistributing passages automatically coincident with acceleration ofgaseous fiow through said manifold.

4. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, means located at said base part for accumulating liquidparticles from a generally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage, and rotary means for thereafter delivering the accumulatedliquid to said distributing passages.

5. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a.base part thereof, a rotor in said base part arranged to receive liquidparticles from a generally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage into said base part, and distribute said particles to saiddistributing passages and against the intervening manifold wall parts,and means for collecting the liquid received by said interventing wallparts and returning said liquid to said rotor.

6. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, a rotor in said base part arranged to receive liquidparticles from a generally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage into said base part, and distribute said particles to saiddistributing passages and 7 against the intervening manifold wall parts,

means for collecting the liquid received by said intervening Wall partsand returning said liquid to said rotor, said means comprising areceiver into which said interveningwall parts drain, and an element ofsaid rotor having a path by way of said receiver.

7. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, a rotor in said base part arranged to receive liquidparticles from a gen erally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage into said base part, and distribute said particles to saiddistributing passages and against the intervening manifold Wall parts,means for collecting the liquid received by said intervening wall partsand returning said liquid to said rotor, said means comprising areceiver of annular trough form into which said inter- Vening Wallsdrain, disposed concentrically with the rotor, and an element of saidrotor arranged to move in said trough.

8. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, a rotor in said base part arranged to receive liquidparticles from a generally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage into said base part, and distribute said particles to saiddistributing passages and against the intervening manifold wall parts,means for collecting the liquid received by said intervening wall parts,and means for returning said collected liquid to said rotor at the willof the operator.

9. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, a rotor in said base part arranged to receive liquidparticles from a generally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage into said base part, and distribute said particles to saiddistributing passages and against the intervening manifold wall parts,means for collecting the liquid received by said intervening wall parts,and means for returning said collected liquid to said rotor dependentupon flow through said master passage.

10. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, a rotor in said base part arranged to receive liquidparticles from a generally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage into said base part, and distribute said particles to saiddistributing passages and against the intervening manifold wall parts,means for collecting the liquid received by said intervening wall parts,and means for returning said collected liquid to said rotor dependentupon pressure in said distributing passages.

11. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, a rotor in said base part arranged to receive liquidparticles from a generally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage into said base part, and distribute said particles to saiddistributing passages and against the intervening manifold Wall parts,means for collecting the liquid received by said intervening wall parts,and means for returning said collected liquid 'to said rotor coincidentwith acceleration of said mixture through said manifold.

12. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, a rotor in said base part arranged to receive liquidparticles from a generally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage into said base part, and distribute said particles to saiddistributing passages and against the intervening manifold wall parts,means for collecting the liquid received by said intervening wall partsand returning said liquid to said rotor, said means comprising areceiver into which said intervening wall parts drain, and an element ofsaid rotor having a path by way of said receiver, and means foradjusting the relation between said rotor element and said receiver, tocontrol their relative elevations.

13. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, a rotor in said base part arranged to receive liquidparticles from a generally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage into said base part, and distribute said particles to saiddistributing passages and against the intervening manifold wall parts,means for collecting the liquid received by said intervening Wall partsand returning said liquid to said rotor, said means comprising anannular receiver of trough form into which said intervening Walls drain,disposed concentrically with the rotor, said rotor having an elementadapted to be immersed in the liquid of said trough, and 85 means foradjusting said element along said rotor axis to control its saidimmersion.

1a. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, a rotor in said base part arranged to receive liquidparticles from a generally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage into said base part, and distribute said particles to saiddistributing passages and against the intervening manifold wall parts,means for collecting the liquid received by said intervening wall partsand returning said liquid to said rotor, said means comprising areceiver into which said intervening walls drain, said rotor having anelement adapted to be immersed in the liquid of said receiver, and meansfor lowering said element lengthwise of said rotor axis automaticallydependent upon rise in pressure in said distributing passages and viceversa.

15. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, a rotor in said base part arranged to receive liquidparticles from a generally gaseous mixture fed through said masterpassage into said base part, and distribute said particles to saiddistributing passages and against the intervening manifold Wall parts,

means for collecting the liquid received by said intervening wall partsand returning said liquid to said rotor, said means comprising anannular receiver of trough form into which said intervening Walls drain,disposed concentrically with the rotor, said rotor having an elementadapted to be immersed in the liquid of said trough, and meansresponsive to pressure in said distributing passages for adjusting saidelement along said rotor axis to control its said immerslon.

16. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading divergently from a basepart thereof, with manifold wall parts intervening therebetween, a rotorarranged in said base part coaxial with said master passage and havingassociated actuating means, means for adjusting said rotor lengthwise ofsaid master passage for controlling flow from the latter, receiver meansfor collecting liquid received from said rotor by said intervening wallparts, said parts being so proportioned and arranged that said rotor maybe adjusted in opening direction to extend into said receiver, wherebysaid rotor will deliver said collected liquid from said receiver towardsaid distributing passages when adjusted to be farthest removed fromsaid master passage.

17. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading from a base partthereof, valve means adjustable longitudinally of said master passagewith a concurrent rotative component of motion about the master passageaxis to extend variably into said manifold base part to control flowfrom said master passage.

18. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading from a base 5 partthereof, a rotor arranged in said base part coaxial with said masterpassage and having associated actuating means, and valve meansadjustable longitudinally of said master passage toward and from saidrotor for controlling flow 1 from said master passage to saiddistributing passages.

19. In a manifold for the purpose described and having a master passageand a plurality of distributing passages leading from a base part 15thereof, a rotor arranged in said base part coaxial with said masterpassage and having peripherally located blades for its actuation bygaseous flow therefrom, and valve means adjustable longitudinally ofsaid master passage 20 toward and from said rotor for controlling flowfrom said master passage to said distributing passages, said valve meanshaving a mouth directed towards said rotor and cooperative therewithwithin the path of said blades.

FRANK R. HIGLEY.

